SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 27, 2009

                        MERIDIAN INTERSTATE BANCORP, INC.
                        ---------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

       Massachusetts                   001-33898                20-4652200
-----------------------------    ---------------------     -------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction)    (Commission File No.)     (I.R.S. Employer
    of Incorporation)                                      Identification No.)


10 Meridian Street, East Boston, Massachusetts                    02128
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                        (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (617) 567-1500
                                                     --------------



                                 Not Applicable
                                 --------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
    230.425)

[ ] Soliciting  material  pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
    240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))







Item 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors;
            Appointment of Principal Officers
            ---------------------------------

     On January 27, 2009,  Carl LaGreca was appointed to the boards of directors
of Meridian Interstate Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") and its  wholly-subsidiary,
East  Boston  Savings  Bank  (the  "Bank").   There  are  no   arrangements   or
understandings  between Mr.  LaGreca and any other person  pursuant to which Mr.
LaGreca became a director.  Mr. LaGreca is not a party to any  transaction  with
the  Company  or the Bank that would  require  disclosure  under Item  404(a) of
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  Regulation  S-K.  Mr.  LaGreca  has  been
appointed as a member of the Company's Audit Committee.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         None









                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

                        MERIDIAN INTERSTATE BANCORP, INC.



DATE: January 30, 2009              By: /s/ Leonard V. Siuda
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Leonard V. Siuda
                                        Treasurer and
                                        Chief Financial Officer